AstraZeneca Plc and Merck & Co Inc said on Monday their treatment for newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer improved progression-free survival in patients tested in a late-stage study,  Reuters reported.

The study tested Lynparza in patients as an add-on to an already existing standard of care, bevacizumab, and was compared to a group of patients given bevacizumab alone.

Reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 41% 

The treatment showed a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival in women with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer, the companies said.

Lynparza added to bevacizumab reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 41% in the overall trial population.  The combination also improved progression-free survival to a median of 22.1 months compared to 16.6 months for those treated with bevacizumab alone, the companies said.

Treatment of advanced ovarian cancer

The treatment, which is being jointly developed and commercialized by AstraZeneca and Merck, is approved for the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer and metastatic breast cancer and has been used to treat over 25,000 patients worldwide.